NFL Player Says Liberty City Can Beat Phelps

There are many reasons an outsider might not want to be caught in Liberty City in nothing but a speedo. But an impromptu 100-meter butterfly challenge would seem to be the least of one's worries.

According to Cincinnati Bangles wide receiver Chad Johnson, Liberty City is one of the great untapped pools of swimming talent in the world. Newly minted Olympic deity Michael Phelps better watch his back. He may have more Olympic gold on his neck than the entire delegation of most countries, but apparently that doesn't mean much at the Hadley pool.

“Where I’m from, Liberty City, I know a couple people who could beat Michael Phelps right now. I’m one of them,” boasted Johnson on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption. For video evidence, check this YouTube clip (the Olympics talk starts around 3:55). Johnson cited his childhood achievement of collecting three Charles Hadley pool championships as evidence, which set the hosts into laughter.

“This is not funny, because some of the best people in the world are the people who are not able to make it to [the Olympics],” he retorted.

If someone from Liberty City or anywhere else could hop in the pool for the first time and leisurely set a world record, there would be tons of swim programs knocking down the door. Plus, the inner city of Miami has already secured an Olympic medal during the games. Bershawn Johnson, a Moore Park native, took bronze in the 400-meter hurdles.

Phelps reportedly accepted the challenge, but Johnson's recent shoulder injury makes it unlikely the two will meet in the pool any time soon.